Wilton Simpson Chris Sprowls President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives
April 27, 2021
The Honorable Wilton Simpson President of the Senate
The Honorable Chris Sprowls Speaker, House of Representatives
Dear Mr. President and Mr. Speaker:
Your Conference Committee on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on SB 2516, same being:
An act relating to Water Storage North of Lake Okeechobee. having met, and after full and free conference, do recommend to their respective houses as follows:
1. That the House of Representatives recede from its Amendment 247499. 2. That the Senate and House of Representatives adopt the Conference Committee Amendment attached hereto, and by reference made a part of this report.
The Honorable Wilton Simpson The Honorable Chris Sprowls April 27, 2021 Page 2
Senator Kelli Stargel, Chair Senator Ben Albritton
Senator Loranne Ausley Senator Dennis Baxley
Senator Aaron Bean, At Large Senator Lori Berman
Senator Lauren Book, At Large Senator Jim Boyd
Senator Randolph Bracy Senator Jennifer Bradley
Senator Jeff Brandes Senator Jason Brodeur
Senator Doug Broxson Senator Danny Burgess
Senator Janet Cruz Senator Manny Diaz Jr.
Senator Gary M. Farmer Jr., At Large Senator George B. Gainer
Senator Ileana Garcia Senator Audrey Gibson, At Large
Senator Joe Gruters Senator Gayle Harrell
Senator Ed Hooper Senator Travis Hutson
Senator Shevrin D. Jones Senator Debbie Mayfield, At Large
Senator Kathleen Passidomo, At Large Senator Keith Perry, At Large
Senator Jason W. B. Pizzo Senator Tina Scott Polsky
Senator Bobby Powell Senator Ray Wesley Rodrigues
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez Senator Darryl Ervin Rouson, At Large
Senator Linda Stewart Senator Annette Taddeo
SB 2516 The Honorable Wilton Simpson The Honorable Chris Sprowls April 27, 2021 Page 3
Senator Perry E. Thurston Jr. Senator Victor M. Torres Jr.
Senator Tom A. Wright
Conferees on the part of the Senate
SB 2516 The Honorable Wilton Simpson The Honorable Chris Sprowls April 27, 2021 Page 4
Representative Josie Tomkow, Chair Representative Jay Trumbull, Chair
Representative Ramon Alexander, At Large Representative Bryan Avila, At Large
Representative Adam Botana Representative Robert Charles Brannan III
Representative James Buchanan Representative Colleen Burton, At Large
Representative Demi Busatta Cabrera Representative James Bush, At Large
Representative Kevin D. Chambliss Representative Charles Wesley Clemons, Sr.
Representative Ben Diamond, At Large Representative Brad Drake, At Large
Representative Bobby B. DuBose, At Large Representative Nicholas X. Duran, At Large
Representative Anna V. Eskamani, At Large Representative Tom Fabricio
Representative Randy Fine, At Large Representative Joseph Geller, At Large
Representative Erin Grall, At Large Representative Michael Grant, At Large
Representative Omari Hardy Representative Blaise Ingoglia, At Large
Representative Evan Jenne, At Large Representative Chris Latvala, At Large
Representative Thomas J. Leek, At Large Representative Ralph E. Massullo, MD, At Large
Representative Lawrence McClure, At Large Representative Daisy Morales
Representative Anika Tene Omphroy, At Large Representative Bobby Payne, At Large
Representative Daniel Perez, At Large Representative Scott Plakon, At Large
Representative Rene Plasencia, At Large Representative Paul Renner, At Large
Representative Rick Roth, At Large Representative Emily Slosberg, At Large
SB 2516 The Honorable Wilton Simpson The Honorable Chris Sprowls April 27, 2021 Page 5
Representative Cyndi Stevenson, At Large Representative Allison Tant
Representative Matt Willhite, At Large Representative Patricia H. Williams, At Large
Representative Jayer Williamson, At Large
Managers on the part of the House of Representatives
SB 2516 SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ACTION Page 6 April 27, 2021 The Conference Committee Amendment for SB 2516, relating to Water Storage North of Lake Okeechobee, conforms statutes to the funding decisions related to Water Storage North of Lake Okeechobee in the 2021-2022 General Appropriations Act. Specifically the bill:
Creates s. 373.4599, F.S., entitled “Water storage north of Lake Okeechobee” and provides a definition section. Provides that upon the effective date of the bill, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) must request that the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) seek congressional approval of a project implementation report for the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project (LOWRP) before passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. Immediately following congressional approval of the LOWRP, the SFWMD is directed to execute with the USACE a project partnership agreement for the LOWRP that is consistent with the bill. Directs the SFWMD to expedite the development and implementation of the LOWRP aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) wells, in partnership with the USACE, and provides a schedule to complete tasks. Requires the SFWMD to perform any necessary scientific investigation and monitoring concurrently with the implementation of the LOWRP ASR wells. The LOWRP ASR wells must use a phased approach that confirms feasibility and site suitability, and that addresses uncertainties identified in the ASR Science Plan. The bill requires the SFWMD to expedite implementation of the ASR Science Plan. Requires the SFWMD to pursue, in partnership with the USACE, expeditious implementation of the Paradise Run wetland restoration project and the Kissimmee River Center wetland restoration project. Requires that the LOWRP implementation under the bill must comply with all applicable federal and state laws and rules. It also specifies that all projects, locations, or structures referred to in the bill’s subsection on project implementation mean those described in the LOWRP project implementation report, dated August 2020, or as subsequently amended. Requires, by November 1, 2021, the SFWMD to submit a report to the Legislature describing the SFWMD’s compliance with the bill, including steps taken, plans for ongoing compliance, and specified updates related to the LOWRP implementation. Amends s. 375.041, F.S., to include an annual appropriation of $50 million from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to the SFWMD for the LOWRP. The bill requires that this distribution be reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid on Florida Forever and Everglades Restoration bonds issue after July 1, 2021. Provides an effective date.
SB 2516